M. K. Čiurlionis

M. K. Čiurlionis

Introduction and interview: Rasa Andriusyte-Zukiene, Kaunas / Lithuania Presentation: Claas Danielsen, Leipzig

Sunday 13. Nov. // 02:00 – about 04:30 p.m.
Eintritt frei
Schauspielhaus / Horch und Guck

    Two films about the Lithuanian composer and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

    Teil I: 14.00 – 15.00 Uhr

    Die Welt – eine große Sinfonie (Pasauli Vaizduojuos Kaip Didele Simfonija)

    Leben und Werk von M. K. Čiurlionis
    Dokumentarfilm von Robertas Verba

    Teil II: 15.00 – ca. 16.30 Uhr

    Tierkreiszeichen (Zodiakas)

    Film von Jonas Vaitkus

    Right up to the present day, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911) has had a significant influence on both music and painting in Lithuania. He produced around 200 compositions and 300 paintings. During his lifetime he was more successful as a musician than as a painter, leaving behind Lithuania’s first symphonies and chamber music, in a style similar to that of Debussy and Rachmaninov.

    Today, his style of painting is so unique that it has to be given the same status as the greatest artists of his time. But to see his pictures you have to travel to Kaunas, far from the European metropolises. These pieces were also painted on such fine paper, that they are rarely lent out. The themes of the paintings are based on Lithuanian mysticism, nature and culture. Čiurlionis consciously kept to musical phrasing and created picture cycles such as the triptych »Summer« (1907), the »Pyramid Sonata« (1909) and the 12-part cycle »Signs of the Zodiac« (1906).

    »Signs of the Zodiac« is the title of a film about Čiurlionis by Jonas Vaitkus, in which Maja Plissetzkaja – one of the best prima ballerinas of the 20th century – plays the leading role. In 1985 she was finally successful at pushing for the film to be allowed to show, after several bans, changes and cuts. During the period before 1991, when Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union, the symbolism of Čiurlionis’ work was significantly hushed. »Signs of the Zodiac«, a documentary film, is presented as an insight into the life and work of Čiurlionis.

    Čiurlionis in Leipzig

    From October 1901 to July 1902, Čiurlionis studied composition, instrumentation and counterpoint at the Leipzig Music Conservatoire. He also attended university lectures on aesthetics, history and philosophy, as well as going to concerts at the Gewandhaus and in the theatre, and visiting the museum and works in the Peters publishing house library. With a diploma from the Leipzig Conservatoire, he returned to Warsaw.

    German premiers

    Foto: Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911)

    The world – one big symphony (Pasauli Vaizduojuos Kaip Didele Simfonija)

    Documentary by Robertas Verba

    1975 // Farbe // Litauisch mit englischen Untertiteln // 50 Minuten


    Signs of the Zodiac (Zodiakas)

    Film by Jonas Vaitkus with prima ballerina Maja Plissetzkaja

    Darsteller: Maja Plissetzkaja, Grigorij Gladij, Pr. Piaulokos

    1985 // 1991 Erstaufführung der ungekürzten Fassung
    Farbe // Litauisch mit englischen Untertiteln // 70 Minuten

    Archive 2004

    14th Festival Year